Railroad worker's injury verdict is reinstated by Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

James Szekeres tore the meniscus in his knee and required surgery after slipping and falling at work.  His injury came after slipping on muddy boots that had become soiled when he was forced to stand in mud for 30 minutes to operate a track switch.  When Szekeres went to relieve himself, he slipped on sloped ground, injuring the knee.  The jury found that his injury was compensable by his employer, CSX Transportation, under the FELA, a workers' compensation system applicable to railroad workers.

The Railroad asked the trial judge to overturn the verdict and the judge did.  On appeal, the higher court concluded that Szekeres' proofs were adequate to support the verdict and the causation standards in the federal statute, and the verdict was reinstated.